Hello all,
I have been creeping around this site for quite a while now and have finally come to the decision to sell my baby (1971 VW Superbeetle) and get a new MINI. This is my first time ever getting a car through a dealer and i'm still 18 so credit isn't really established but my mom is getting a loan with me in it and i'm going to pay it off. I have read about people here getting the dealers to lower the price and i was wondering HOW DO YOU DO THAT?!?!?! Would walking in there with a 19k(MSRP on MINIUSA for the one i created) check and saying that thats what i will pay right then and there work? Or is there other ways?!?! I need to know the secrets, i also was wondering which dealer is cheaper, i live in Tustin, California and already went to crevier but was quoted at 24k, i got to test drive one too and it was GREAT!!!!!
Thanks in advance
And love the site; bunch of useful information and GREAT bunch of happy people.

Thanks

 

I've been told that you might be able to shop around thru the internet with the various dealers and maybe save a couple of bucks. First make sure you know exactly what you want then email your price request in. Good luck!!

 

That's the best buying decision. Buy at other state and make a trip. I bought it at home, but that's because every dealer here has the same prices.

 

love the name classic

 

Hi chickencoop,
Long Beach MINI,
South Bay MINI, Torrence, CA
both are guaranteed to sell at MSRP. I've read from other threads that there are a few other dealers going that route, but not without some strings attached. Dealers with mark ups can be talked down with some persistence, but if you don't want to haggle...I ordered my MCS over the phone with Long Beach MINI exactly at MSRP.

It helps to know exactly what you want before talking to them.

 

Thanks for the replies.
Yeah i know what i want, it's the regular Cooper with the premium pkg, and white bonnet stripes not much though. Just extra stuff to be excited about. I am thinking of going to LB mini because i've read about them on the site and it would be 5 thousand less than crevier mini...that is, if it stays at MSRP, do they add taxes or other stuff at all or is it set in stone that MSRP is what you'll pay?

This is off-topic but when i test drove the mini the sales associate was telling me to change gears at 4 RPM and was wondering if that won't wear out anything, since i had a bug with no tach, i went by the speedo. That reminds me, i LOVEEEE the mini speedo!!! It's so HUGE!!!! But anyway, thanks. I think i'll call the long beach dealer sometime today to have a talk with them.
OH!! I want the premium package because it makes a little more sense to get it rather than get the sunroof alone but i had a question about the Auto A/C. Can you override that feature so it won't go on or is it in auto forever? I get sick of A/C and start feeling dizzy and weird so i wouldn't want my mini to get me high each time i get in it
So yeah, thanks for the replies and thanks illegalhunter, i wanted to get a yellow mini to match the name but they discontinued it!!
Thanks

 

So i talked with Junior at Long Beach and he quoted me at 21,562 including tax for the Chilli Red Cooper with premium pack, white bonnet stripes, and ipod adapter, i also asked about having only the sunroof and it's 20,966. It seems good to me since at Crevier he was already at 24k without the premium pkg.
What do you guys think, does 21 seem like a good price for it?
And is the premium pkg worth it?
Thanks.

 

Sounds about right. It's probably MSRP plus the standard tax and title fees. As far as the premium pkg, I ordered a la carte and ditched the auto AC. I have heard alot about problems with it and would rather pick my own temp. Plus you'll save a few bucks to put towards some mods.

PS. I ordered thru Junior, and I'm totally pleased.

 

Sounds excellent. I forgot to mention that I ordered through Long Beach MINI (over the phone) knowing before hand that they were strictly at MRSP + tax and licensing. It was so easy ordering that a few days later I called a few times to confirm the order making sure they had all the specs right and the price exactly to order.

Edit: I did mention that I ordered through LB on my first post. I need to read what I post sometimes.

 

YAY, this is cool, with your guy's advice i've been convinced to go through with them. So i'll be going sometime next week, probably Tuesday and placing my ORDER. IM SO EXCITED!!!!!!!! The sales guy was telling me that it would arrive mid to late November if i placed the order now, and the funny thing is that my birthday is on November
WHoooooo
anyway, thanks for all your help. I'll be sure to let you guys know when i finally get it. So i can finally be taken over by this obssession as well.

 

Great. I chose LB over South Bay because LB didn't require me to pay a deposit and they're a little farther away from me. South Bay asks for a $1,000 dollar deposit up front that would go toward the purchase of the car if I ordered through them. South Bay were also really nice guys though.

 

So i went to the LB MINI today and was ready to place the order on the cooper, but then my mom was eyeing the MCS and told me i should get that one instead!! I was shocked but excited at the same time, and i asked gerry how much more it would go up and he quoted me at $25,515 with premium pkg.and ipod adapter and installation. that seems fine to me but i want to get other's opinion on the price, unfortunately he said i wouldn't get my MINI till mid to late december
But im excited over the whole car, it looks meaner. I had a question about mileage though, i was wondering how many miles do MINIS usually last? And if there is a difference between the base model and the S?
Thanks.

 

If you check several threads on around here, I"m sure you can find out how many miles they can last. It's not unusual nowadays for cars (not just MINIS) to go at least 110,000 - 150,000 miles easily. But check around, I don't think I"ll be far from those figures.

The most noticeable difference that MINI owners will point out is the diffierence in horsepower:
-Base Model 115hp
-S Model 168hp
Obviously, the Cooper S has a head scoop, that your mom noticed right away. You'll have to figure out how much hp is enough for you depending on your driving style, etc. I chose the S over the Base because of the extra hp; it was my main reason to choose the S. Otherwise the Base model is a beautiful car, I didn't find the exterior or interior features extremely different. Both models are the same size.

Others care to chime in?

 

Welcome to NAM, chickencoop! I've purchased two MINIs from Long Beach MINI and they are a wonderful dealership. They sell strictly at MSRP. I would suggest that you visit www.MINIUSA.com and see if you can still "Build Your Own" 2006 MINI Coopers/MINI Cooper Ss. That will give you the MSRP and help you compare the two models. Happy browsing!

 

Thanks for the response, yeah my mom was attracted to the scoop and the spoiler the most, she also liked the seats. But i of course am more interested in the extra horsepower, she didnt really take that into consideration but when i told her she thought it was an even better deal. Thanks MINIclo for the warm pre-mini welcome, i did go to the MINI site and built my own. That was what i took to the dealer and showed him the paper, the deal was set for a regular cooper at 21 something dollars but then my mom talked me into getting the S (she should work there)
But i was just wondering about the price, if it leaves any room for lowering or if that is a fine price. But thanks again for the responses and can't wait to get my hands on that car.
I also had a question about the break-in period but don't want to start a new thread so ill post here.
My friend and i are planning a small road trip to Arizona, i want to take my MINI if i get it by then. But i don't know if it would be ok to drive it that far while it's still in it's toddler stages.

 

Hi chickencoop (love the name, by the way),

Welcome!

I just picked up my base Cooper this past Friday and I absolutely love it. The way I understand the break-in period is you should try to keep revs under 4500 rpm and speed under 95 mph for the first 1250 miles. Also, you should vary engine speed and actual speed instead of travelling at the same speed for long periods (in other words, don't use cruise control for extended amounts of time) - I think this is pretty standard for any new car.

Many people actually purchase their MINIs at dealers in other states (often across the country for those in CA, in order to get them quicker), and take road trips back home when they pick up their cars. There's no problem taking a road trip during the break-in as long as you adhere to the guidelines.

 

I'm expecting my first car, MCS, in about a week. Before ordering, my parents as well told me to check around to see if they discount the cars. To my knowledge (and I've checked many dealers in and out of state), they do NOT discount Mini's. MSRP is what you pay...unless your MA is tryin' to make a buck!

 

Chickencoop, get the S

 

Something you may want to check before deciding on the MCS versus the MC is the difference in insurance premiums. Shouldn't necessarily be a deal-breaker, but definitely worth looking into.

 

Alright cool then, i already placed the order at LB MINI and it should be here mid to late december. It's the S by the way, i thought might as well go for it so i did. I guess if i do get it before winter break then i will take it on the trip, but the wait is already feeling like an eternity even though i just placed the order last night!!! Now i see why a lot of people can't wait, this is torture and i know it'll only get worse:impatient
I'm not even scheduled to get a production number till November i think.
When you order them, do you get to name the cars? or do you guys just name them for fun? it sounds like it's an official sort of thing so i wanted to start considering possible names.
Thanks

 

Well it's your car so of course you name it.
The dealer I went to actually did name their cars, I made it my car's "middle" name.... so my car is named Perry Thatcher. Has a nice ring to it.

 

Congrats on making your order. Yes, the wait can be "long". Just wait til the last month....you'll almost go mad in the final weeks.

edit: I almost forgot. I'm going to Long Beach MINI tomorrow to pick it up at 5pm PST. YESSS!!!
I feel relieved from my madness.